Annual Spring Friendraiser Raises Awareness and Support Toward Nutrition-Focused Initiatives

New York Times bestselling author and founder of NutritionFacts.org, Dr. Michael Greger (second from right), with attendees at The Osher Center for Integrative Medicine at Northwestern University’s annual Spring Friendraiser.

Michael Greger, MD, New York Times bestselling author and founder of NutritionFacts.org in Rockville, Maryland, shared tips and cutting-edge research highlighting diet’s impact on prevention and reversal of chronic disease at The Osher Center for Integrative Medicine at Northwestern University’s annual Spring Friendraiser at Chicago’s City Winery.

We spoke with Dani Shepherd, communications consultant for The Osher Center for Integrative Medicine at Northwestern University in Chicago, who was in on all the action and shared the details of this event. 

Dr. Greger shared tips and cutting-edge research highlighting diet’s impact on prevention and reversal of chronic disease.

Why is the event referred to as a “Friendraiser?”

This spring event was called a "Friendraiser" because it was designed to unite the Center's supportive friends and community through an inspiring, educational experience featuring Dr. Greger. While we saw many familiar faces at our March event, we also welcomed new individuals into our community and effectively raised awareness for the nutrition-focused initiatives at The Osher Center for Integrative Medicine at Northwestern University.

Who attends this event?

A collection of health-focused individuals who support our work, our community and the future of integrative medicine. [This year, there were 150 people.]

How many speakers were there and what did they touch on?

Highlights from the event included Dr. Greger's presentation of cutting-edge nutrition research, as well as plant-forward bites inspired by his acclaimed books How Not to Die and How Not to Diet. Guests were eager to pose a question during the Q&A and have their books signed/photos taken with Dr. Greger throughout the evening.

We also heard from Lori Lyman, [Integrative Medicine: Advising With Awareness, Resources, and Education (IM AWARE) advisory council president in Long Grove, Illinois] and Dr. Melinda Ring, [executive director of The Osher Center for Integrative Medicine at Northwestern University in Chicago] who spoke to our Center’s nutrition-focused initiatives like Cooking Up Health, featured within the documentary previewed at the event.

Dr. Greger also signed copies of his books at the event.

What initiative does the money go toward?

The Osher Center’s nutrition-focused initiatives like the nationally recognized Cooking Up Health curriculum: enhanced nutrition education for the next generation of providers at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine. This initiative works to combat the reality that less than one percent of total lecture hours in medical school are related to nutrition, yet unhealthy diet contributes to approximately 678,000 deaths in the United States annually due to nutrition-related conditions.

Can you share a tip Dr. Greger mentioned in his presentation?

Some key learnings include:

a.     The world’s lowest rate of Alzheimer’s disease is in rural northern India, where diets are primarily plant-based.

b.     Studies repeatedly show a whole-food, plant-based diet helps to prevent, arrest and reverse the leading killer in America: heart disease.

c.     Greater consumption of vegetables has been associated with a decrease in the risk of developing depression.

d.     A fiber-rich diet can help reduce your risk of developing esophageal cancer by 50 percent.

For more information, visit nutritionfacts.org and nm.org. Follow them on Instagram: @nutrition _ facts _org @northwesternmedicine

[Images by Randy Belice for Northwestern University]

Jennifer Novoseletsky is a proud Illinois State University alumna with a journalism degree. She has been writing and editing for more than seven years—three in the skin care industry. While her heart lies in the city of Chicago, she currently resides in the suburbs, but is drawn to mountains and the outdoors.